MotoGP: Francesco Bagnaia signs four‑year Aprilia deal to form all‑Italian MotoGP line‑up from 2027
Two-time MotoGP champion Francesco Bagnaia has signed a four‑year contract with Aprilia Racing, marking one of the most significant rider transfers in recent MotoGP history.
Beginning in 2027, the two‑time MotoGP World Champion will compete aboard the RS‑GP alongside Marco Bezzecchi, completing a fully Italian line‑up for the Noale manufacturer at the dawn of a new technical era for the sport.
The announcement comes just one day after Bagnaia confirmed he would leave Ducati at the end of the current season, closing an immensely successful chapter that included back‑to‑back world titles in 2022 and 2023. His move to Aprilia signals both a personal new beginning and a major strategic step for the Italian brand as it prepares for the 2027 regulation overhaul.
Bagnaia’s arrival represents a landmark moment for Aprilia Racing. The 29‑year‑old Turin native brings with him one of the most impressive résumés of the modern MotoGP era: 41 victories, 86 podiums, and 35 pole positions across all classes.
After debuting in Moto3 in 2013 and claiming the Moto2 crown in 2018, he rose to the premier class and quickly established himself as one of the defining riders of his generation. His achievements place him among the most successful Italian riders in history, trailing only legends Giacomo Agostini and Valentino Rossi.
Aprilia Racing CEO Massimo Rivola emphasised the symbolic and sporting importance of the signing, highlighting the team’s ambition to elevate Italian motorsport on the world stage. “Michele Colaninno and I share the same vision of supporting Italy, which is why we both thought of Marco and Pecco together for the next chapter of Aprilia Racing.
"Bagnaia’s arrival is a confirmation of the value of Italian sport, which in recent months has distinguished itself on the world stage thanks to the achievements of Kimi Antonelli in Formula 1, Jannik Sinner in tennis, and Federica Brignone at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.
"That is why welcoming Pecco fills us with pride and gives Italian sport a further boost internationally. We will give him and his family a warm welcome, but first we will try to beat him! Having a multiple World Champion is a responsibility we can’t wait to take on.”
For Aprilia, the signing is both a statement of intent and a reinforcement of its long‑term project. The RS‑GP has evolved into one of the most competitive machines on the grid, and pairing Bezzecchi with Bagnaia gives the team an all‑Italian roster capable of challenging for victories and titles as MotoGP enters a new era of technical regulations.
For Bagnaia, the move marks a bold new chapter after years of success in red. His decision to join Aprilia reflects confidence in the team’s trajectory and a desire to lead a new Italian project from the front.
With four seasons ahead of him in Noale colours, he will become the cornerstone of Aprilia’s ambitions to fight consistently for championships.
